A Captive of Dragons

“But mother, I am only eighteen, why must I be married,” I whined in a most unladylike fashion.

“Emmaline, you are coming upon an eligible age and it is time to decide your prospects. And is what a princess must do.” I pouted at mother across the breakfast table, unsatisfied by her reasoning.

“Shouldn’t I choose who I want,” I questioned.

“If you weren’t so picky then yes you could. We need someone quickly though and someone that will keep on with our pure blood. In fact, your father and I have perfect a perfectly wonderful suitor,” said mother.

“Who,” I asked with a cringe.

“King Easton Vaun’s son, Edward.” I made a face, not truly knowing who she was talking about.

“I still don’t get why it needs to happen so soon...”

“It’s probably so the dragons don’t get you,” teased Evan, my younger brother, and true heir to the crown. I stuck my tongue at him, but mother did not take the jab at me as lightly.

“Evan, how dare you say that. You know the curse of the dragons, and it is not a topic to be joked about. You know better than that.”

“Sorry,” Evan mumbled.

There was truth to Evan’s statement though. It was not like I had not noticed it. Mother and father had been surrounding me with extra soldiers day and night, especially whenever I went outdoors. They were afraid of me being affected by the dragons’ curse. I knew they had reason for worry. I was at the prime age when most other princesses have been taken away. Not to mention the fact that those of pure blood lines and of high royalty tended to be taken. That was the reasoning for the rush of me being wed. Dragons did not steal queens.

“May I be excused?” I was tired of all this suitor and future wedding talk.

“Yes. However, we will be continuing this discussion later, young lad...

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... is not like running away would do me any good when its wingspan was about twice as big as me. Who knows, maybe dragons like the thrill of the hunt for their meals. I was not about to give it that satisfaction.

As though reading my thoughts, the dragon stalked towards me, bringing its face down and closer to my level. I became completely entranced in the dragons golden eyes. A wave of calmness started to rush over me. I fell into complete trust with the golden eyes. Now, the dragon was not the one moving, it was I who strode forward. I lost control of what I had been doing and I went in a trance to the awaiting wings of the dragon. It just wrapped its hand around me, engulfing almost my whole body in a surprisingly gentle grip, when there was a loud crash from behind. The trance that I was in broke. Soldiers rushed into the garden and I struggled against my captor.